SB 153 Pennsylvania Senate · 2025-2026 Regular Session

An Act amending the act of December 5, 1936 (2nd Sp.Sess., 1937 P.L.2897, No.1), known as the Unemployment Compensation Law, in compensation, further providing for ineligibility for compensation.

SB 153 amends Pennsylvania's 1936 Unemployment Compensation Law to clarify when unemployed workers may lose benefits. It adds specific rules making workers ineligible if they unreasonably discourage their own hiring - such as skipping job interviews without good cause or refusing referrals before discussing job details. Employers can now report such behavior to the state, and the Department of Labor must create forms for this process within 90 days. The bill directly affects workers claiming unemployment benefits by tightening eligibility standards around job search efforts.
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Jan 2025
Senate Passage
Jan 2025
House Passage
Governor
Introduced Jan 22, 2025 Last action Jan 29, 2025
Floor votes · Senate Jan 29, 2025

How they voted

2920
Passed
Total votes 49
Jan 29, 2025
D Democratic22
2 Yea 20 Nay
90% Nay
R Republican27
27 Yea
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
8
Key actions
3
Committee
5
Jan 29, 2025
Committee
Referred to Labor & Industry
lower
Jan 29, 2025
Upper · Passed
Third consideration and final passage
upper
Jan 29, 2025
Upper · Passed
Re-reported as committed
upper
Jan 28, 2025
Committee
Re-referred to Appropriations
upper
Jan 27, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reported as committed
upper
Jan 22, 2025
Committee
Referred to Labor & Industry
upper
1 primary · 4 co-sponsors

Sponsors